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What Shade is Your Valentine Red?

02/12/2012 By Leave a Comment

What Shade is Your Valentine Red?

By Ann Jackson, Makeover Diva

We all see red in the magazines and billboards. It is vibrant, attention-getting, and it is used a lot on young models with luscious, full, pouty, lips. Yet, in real life who really has the nerve to wear it? The confident women, that’s who! Where did they get that confidence? They found out what every women needs to know, but may not, which is: what their shade of red is, and where they feel comfortable wearing it, and in what quantities.

There are so many different shades of red and so many applications for wearing the vital color. For this moment, I will wear my color consultant cap, and calling it your “skin enhancing” color. Every women has her own form of red. It just may not be the classic red from the Crayola box that we were first introduced to in kindergarten.

Let’s get to basics for those of you who have been told that you are a “cool” or a “warm” coloring.

Warm

reds are known as any shade of red that has yellow undertones. That would include everything from brick red (brownish tone), orange red, atomic red (bright with yellow tone), watermelon (more of a tint of warm red), coral (orange red mixed with white).

Cool

reds are known as any shade of red that has blue undertones. That would include our first aquaintance, crayola red, cherry red, burgundy, fuschia, and all the berry tones. Any of these mixed with white are included, and they would be your form of pink.

The next thing after you have gotten your perfect shade of lipstick, or gloss is to know when and how strong to wear it. My rule of thumb is the more color you have around your face, the less you need brightness of lips. Wearing a pink shirt for instance puts color near your face, whereas grey, brown, black tends draw color out of your complexion. Time to amp up the lips!   Hence the classic look of black dress, red lipstick.

But what if you are uncomfortable with full blast red on the lips? Try a lip stain with lipgloss over top. Or a lip “ink” smeared to a lighter shade, then shine applied.

Another trick I use in professional make up application, is putting on the red lipstick then blotting with a tissue. Afterwards, apply a gold or lighter frosted lipstick to soften. The depth of the color is still there.

Another consideration is the time of day and lighting. What looks good in the naked light of day washes completely out at night under low lighting. My favorite peach goes suddenly looking nude.

Now, about Reds in fashion. You do not have to become the “lady in red” to punch up a little excitement into your wardrobe. Just as in decorating, red used as an accent can liven up the most neutral of color combinations and bring the ensemble to life!

Try using red purses, bracelets, shoes or eyeglasses. Again, use the warm/cool color rule. If you are warm get clear bright reds, if cool, use darker reds.  Do they have to match your lipcolor exactly? No, you can wear many shades as long as they are in the same color “family” meaning warm or cool.

So, now get that red out and have some fun with it! Accent those jeans, wear that scarf and don those pretty red shiny mouths and smile!

Divaliciously yours,

Ann Jackson

www.TheMakeoverDiva.com

678-913-5553

Ann is a beauty professional for over 35 years as a licensed master cosmetologist, former salon owner, fashion and color consultant. She takes hair and make up clients at Unique Hair Salon, 6508 Commerce Parkway, in Woodstock, GA and is a fashion consultant on staff at Back By Popular Demand Consignment

www.bbpdconsignment.com located in Marietta.

You may find her on at

www.facebook/AnnTheMakeoverDiva and follow on Twitter@MakeoverDivaAnn

 

–

Ann Jackson

“The Makeover Diva”

www.TheMakeoverDiva.com
Image Consultant
Hair Stylist
Makeup Artist

Beauty On The Go  Mobile Salon

678-913-5553

Avon Orders:

www.youravon.com/ajackson3555

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Child Tax Dependency Exemptions & Credits-How Does Divorce Affect it?

12/07/2011 By Leave a Comment

CHILD TAX DEPENDENCY EXEMPTIONS AND CREDITS AND YOUR DIVORCE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

By Jody A.  Miller, Attorney-at-Law

 Parents need to be aware of the various child dependent exemptions and credits that are available to them on their tax returns and how they might be affected by a divorce settlement agreement. Most parents consider only the child dependency exemption when negotiating a divorce agreement. According to the IRS, in general it is the custodian of the child who is entitled to take the dependency exemption. The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child resides for the greater number of nights during the year. If a child spends an equal number of nights with each parent, the parent with the higher income would generally be considered the custodial parent. A noncustodial parent may take the dependency exemption if the custodial parent waives the right to the exemption. The noncustodial parent is required to attach a written declaration to their tax return from the custodial parent stating that the custodial parent will not take the child as a dependent for the taxable year. Make sure to get expert tax advice on the rules regarding waiving the exemption – some agreements specify that the noncustodial parent is entitled to take the dependency exemption only if he or she is current on their child support obligation for that year; however, check the IRS rules and regulations to make sure as to whether such conditions or contingencies are allowed (they may not be). A parent can take the Dependent Care Credit, Child Tax Credit, and College Tuition Credit ONLY if they are also claiming the child as a dependent on the tax return. Therefore, a parent who waives the dependency exemption also waives the Dependent Care Credit, Child Tax Credit, and College Tuition Credit. Parents must consider this when discussing waiver of the dependency exemption as a parent might unknowingly waive the rights to several tax credits when they thought they were waiving the right to only the dependency exemption. Further, a noncustodial parent may agree to pay for a child’s college education thinking that they would be entitled to take the College Tuition Credit but if the child is not listed as a dependent on their tax returns they cannot take that credit. Is is very important to consider all of the tax credits and exemptions regarding children when negotiating a divorce settlement agreement, and parents should seek competent and specialized tax advice from tax professionals regarding these matters.

Comments are welcomed! For more information, contact Jody at  her office 678-385-5930.

 

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What is the Best Weight Loss Diet?

10/10/2011 By Leave a Comment

What is the Best Weight Loss Diet?

By Betsy Thurston, Registered Dietian

It seems like half of the magazines at the grocery store checkout promote certain foods or special diets that will help boost metabolism. The magazine that advertises the “guaranteed best weight loss diet” sits next to the one announcing the “top rated diet of the year,” yet each of the diets completely contradicts the other. Amazon currently offers 9,925 paperback choices for diet and nutrition books, and most of those books include detailed scientific explanations for the merits of that eating plan.  How can consumers know which is best?  Do diets even work?

The fact is that there is no one correct diet. In fact, a 2009 study comparing four popular weight loss diets that were complete opposites in terms of amounts of protein and carbohydrate showed almost no difference in success over a two-year period. What made the difference in success or failure over the long term was the ability of the dieter to stick with the diet.  What this implies also is that the best program is something suited for the person’s lifestyle.  Ideally, there should be no “diet” but a change in the person’s relationship with food, with hunger and with internal cues.  Statistics have demonstrated over and over that in terms of the long run, diets absolutely, positively do not work.  For any person on a diet, the overwhelming odds are that they will regain and even increase their weight when the diet is over.

There are some nutrition basics that play a huge role, but often taming the behavioral piece is the fundamental problem.  It is much easier to lose weight and keep it off when you are eating lots of vegetables and fruits and whole grains because these fill you up quicker and often help to reduce cravings for empty calories.  The quality of the foods you eat makes an enormous difference.

Many people know what they need to do to keep the weight off, but they cannot sustain it because life gets in the way.  A good health coach should be able to help zero in on the problem and teach the tools necessary to achieve lasting success.  Some people may only need to figure out which behaviors are getting in the way and learn how to navigate around them.  For others the root of the problem lies much deeper.  When people eat to push away feelings of loneliness or inadequacy or because they feel unappreciated, it makes all the difference in the world to work through these issues. In both cases people who want to lose weight and keep it off need to realize that success does not happen overnight.  Learning mindful eating, learning how to set up your environment for success, learning to love new foods or to prepare healthy foods, even learning to love yourself:  these tools can literally change your life!  A health coach can be the best investment you will ever make.

 www.BetsyThurstonRD.com

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Experts

Jennifer Lewin

06/23/2011 By 1 Comment

American Family Insurance

Full-service insurance agency – Home, Auto, Life and Health, Commercial.

Contact Jennifer for all of your personal and business needs at 678-447-5625 or email her at Jennifer.Lewin@amfam.com.

Filed Under: Ambassadors, Directory, Insurance Tagged With: , , ,

Monti Hansard

04/11/2011 By Leave a Comment

Rodan + Fields Dermatology

Executive Consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatologist — Dermatology Grade products delivered in a Multi-Med Formulation without the need for a prescription or the cost of an office visit. Products that have been clinically proven to give results. We are so confident in the results you’ll see that we offer a 60 day, Bottom of the Bottle, 100% Money Back Guarantee. The most common issues we treat are Rosacea, Eczema, Adult Acne, Sun Damage and of course, Anti-Age… a BOOMING Industry!

At Rodan + Fields® Dermatologists we are committed to connecting you with the products, the knowledge, the resources and the opportunities to change your skin and to change your life.

Contact Monti for all of your anti-aging skin care needs at 404-293-3074 or email her at monti@missmonti.com. Check out her website to order your products today! missmonti.com

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Jody Miller

03/07/2011 By Leave a Comment

Jody Miller, Attorney

At the Atlanta, Georgia law office of Jody A. Miller, we have assisted clients with divorce, juvenile law, and general family law issues for over 18 years.

Our philosophy is to provide outstanding and creative legal services in the area of general family law in an atmosphere in which client service and communication is our first priority. We never forget that while we deal with family law issues every day, this process is new to our clients, and each client deserves legal representation by an attorney who will take the time to listen, provide information, and return phone calls.

Over the past 18 years, we have been called on to represent clients in a variety of disputes regarding alimony, child support, custody and visitation, paternity, legitimation, modification, enforcement, and domestic violence. As a recognized leader in the area of family law, the Atlanta community has called on Ms. Miller to discuss her experiences on both television and radio.

For an appointment, contact Jody at 678-385-5930 or email her at jody@lawjamesq.com.

Check out her website at www.lawjamesq.com. Her office is located at

400 Galleria Parkway
Suite 1500
Atlanta, Georgia 30339


Filed Under: Attorneys, Directory, Featured Experts, Legal Services Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dr. Janelle Davison

11/01/2010 By Leave a Comment

 

Brilliant Eyes Vision Center

Brilliant Eyes Vision Center is an independent provider of professional eye care services and products, with a focus on supporting and promoting optimal visual function. Our mission is to provide patients with a wide scope of optometric care in an efficient, convenient, pleasant and educational manner. Brilliant Eyes Vision Center emphasizes overall health and wellness, specifically visual health. Dr. Davison’s goal is to make her patients aware of visual health and how it’s affected by many systemic conditions. Our motto is “Promoting Healthy Eyes for a Healthy Life”. At Brilliant Eyes, education is essential for preventive vision care. Count on leaving our practice with a new found respect and education for your eye wellness.

Looking for a quality eye doctor in Marietta? Brilliant Eyes Vision Center and Doctor Davison are what you’ve been searching for. Brilliant Eyes is the premier vision center of Marietta. Our professional and courteous staff will help you feel comfortable and right at home. We use state-of-the-art equipment at our modernly constructed facility and in house lab to ensure faster turn around. Located off of Power Springs Road in Marietta, Brilliant Eyes Vision Center is easily accessible from Atlanta, GA and surrounding cities.

Contact Dr. Davison at (770)428-0414 or email her at dr.davison@brillianteyesmarietta.com

http://www.brillianteyesmarietta.com

1690 Powder Springs Rd, Suite 101
Marietta, Georgia 30064

 

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Making Entrepreneurial Success Happen

07/05/2010 By Leave a Comment

Making Entrepreneurial Succes Happen
Although I may have branded myself as the woman with the plan, it would have been just as relevant to label myself as a woman of action.  However, I would have had to incorporate the term strategic in front of action for the title to have integrity.  I am saying this because in order for entrepreneurial success to happen both planning and strategic action has to go hand in hand.

Being an entrepreneur is a high risk and sacrificial undertaking, no matter how awesome the service or product.  If it does not initially put a demand on financial affairs, it will definitely alter your schedule and put commands on your time.  Time and money are just two of the areas that an entrepreneur will need to have many considerations in regard too.  However, I dare to say that the balance between planning and action are probably more crucial to entrepreneurial success.

For an entrepreneur, planning and action is not sequential in order.  They take place simultaneously.  While you are planning to improve in one area, you are taking action in whatever areas that is feasible.  This is the nature of doing business. While the website is under construction, you can be blogging.  While your blog is being created, you should be connecting with potential customers directly through social media.  While you are designing a social media construct, you can let at least three people know a day how wonderful your product or service is rather in person or electronically.  Rather in the supermarket or at a dinner engagement you can share with enthusiasm what it is you offer the world.

Communication is the one activity that all entrepreneurs should be engaged in as much as opportunities will allow every day.  You do not need a sophisticated plan to share with someone that you may have what he or she could benefit from.  It does not have to be a sell pitch.  It’s just you sharing your vision and mission as an entrepreneur with all who will listen.  Yes, you serve the marketplace through your products and services.  Someone needs what you have.  Some of them only need to know that you have it.  This is your primary mission is to make sure that everyone that you can possibly reach knows.  If you do this, the rest will fall in place.  Believe me, this is how you make entrepreneurial success happen!

Carpe Diem – Seize the Day!

Davette Harvey

Developing entrepreneurs and building businesses!

Filed Under: Featured Experts

Become Your Own SEO!- The easy way

07/05/2010 By Leave a Comment
Become Your Own SEO! – The easy way.

If you do not have a web presence in today’s world, you are literally missing the boat. Newspapers ads are rapidly disappearing because of the high cost of print and production, and slowness. In this global economy, You can get the news in tomorrow’s paper by simply going to the web for it today. In fact many of the printed pieces you see today were copied and pasted from the web and just reprinted for the paper news tomorrow.It will not be long before there is no more paper. All businesses are trying to cut costs are putting all documents on the web now. Bank statements,deposits,  bill statements, etc. Paper checks are rarely even being offered anymore. The best media will be the web to promote your business from now on. So if you are not using these free resources, you may want to begin to learn how, start with one, then tackle another, and let your expertise grow as you learn, and save a lot of money!

Fonda Madueno

Email:
Dragonslair3263@aol.com

Website:
DragonslairDesign.com

The only way to stay current and really get nation wide exposure is to take your business to the web, and promote it relentlessly. There are countless ways to promote your business with out spending a fortune. Social websites such as twitter, and facebook, linkedin, or foursquare, are all free, and google does index these pages. You can set up a page for your own business there, promote specials, or just news about your company. Facebook got more hits last month than google…who would of ever thought that would happen?

Outside links to your website only improves your chances to get seen and clicked on and ultimately gain a new customers, worldwide.

Run ads on Craigs list every 3 weeks, and keep reposting. Also look around while you are in there for people requesting the services you provide and email them. I have landed several websites by doing this. You also may be able to subcontract for a larger company, and basically they will use you as an extra employee /employees to provide services they cannot handle.  Here’s an example I ran into. A computer repair shop ran an ad for a freelance web designer, because…they have over 20 people a year looking for design, but they do not offer the service. After they found me, guess what? Now they offer the service, with me doing it in the background for them.

Google offers free listings for local business on Google places, and if you haven’t used this you really need to. Go Here—> http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/introducing-google-places

.html to learn more.
 
  
 
    
Filed Under: Featured Experts

Destroy Stress and Take a Rest for Better Business Success

06/02/2010 By

By Bonnie Hall, BDH Consulting

Over the past 25 years I have consulted with more than 900 business owners and found that the two most important business problems were cash flow and quality of life.  The business man or woman sitting across from me discussing the state of their business would speak about the 60 to 70 hours per week that they spent working in their business and the fact that their family had not taken a vacation together in years and sometime even decades. Without exception these business owners always exhibited signs of consistent stress, a lack of restful sleep, lack of time management, shortness of patience, loss of ability to focus and in many cases poor health. In almost every case my verdict to these clients was the same: their business was controlling them instead of their controlling their business. My prescription for them was to step back, take stock and put in a program that ensured a new and better quality of life for the owner. While different actions were needed in some cases the following four steps led to a relaxed client who discovered that taking back control meant a better business and a better quality of life.

1 . MAKE YOUR TIME COUNT! Start by evaluating your life, your business and your goals for each. Are your goals realistic? Have you given up time off with your family to try to achieve unrealistic business goals?  It’s time to look and rate the quality of the hours that you spend in your business. Look at your clients and rate them as to the return on your hourly investment. You may find that you may actually improve your business bottom line and quality of life by “firing” that client who holds you hostage to lower revenue while monopolizing your work day. Customers who are slow pays and cause you lose valuable time trying to juggle other profitable areas to chase billing.  Look at your office. Is it neat?  How long does it take to find paperwork, files or other business related information to complete work related tasks?  Look at outsourcing help either through an organization company or a virtual assistant to aid in creating an environment that saves you man hours.

Set goals for your day that includes breaks and rests that are as mandatory as work deadlines.  Lack of rest and increased stress leads to memory loss and short tempers that could actually cost you clients.

2. You are not an island! Many business owners have developed a style of micromanagement that makes them insist that they must do everything. Even if you are a sole business person you need to take a look at your strengths and weaknesses.  After soul searching and being truthful with yourself, look at ways to subcontract those areas that are your weakness in order for you to concentrate on your strengths. If you are bad at paperwork then look for a virtual assistant or if you are better at producing than selling look for an independent sales person. These are not employees but agents who allow you to do what you do best. You will find that you actually have better success because you are no longer avoiding areas of business that must be managed while having the ability to focus on profit making areas. There is also the benefit of relieving the stress caused by doing that which is distasteful to you.

3.Treat yourself! Set a series of personal treats based on achieving certain goals in your business or your life.  Maybe landing that new prospect means that you can take some time to shop for those really cute shoes or after calling on your sixth cold call of the day you get to stop for an ice cream. Treats do not to be expensive and they can be business related. One of my favorite treats is to have time to speak with special business friends or write an article. When you do something that you love it shows to the whole world in your attitude and your confidence.

4. Let your business give you perks! Plan your business finances to reward yourself. Look for credit plans and buying groups that reward you for loyalty. Cash back credit cards can help you add to your bottom line if used properly, loyalty programs like staples and office depot allow you to reduce your overhead. If you travel for business take advantage of flight, hotel and car loyalty programs that provide free vacation time later.

Once you are involved in these four areas you will soon see that the little extra control that you take in the how to run your business and reward yourself will provide ample return and a happier life for both you and your family.

Filed Under: Featured Experts
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